MULTILATERAL CONSULTATION OF PARTIES TO THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS USED FOR EXPERIMENTAL AND OTHER SCIENTIFIC PURPOSES (ETS 123)

Resolution on education and training of personsworking with laboratory animals

adopted by the Multilateral Consultation on 3 December 1993

The Parties to the European Convention for the protection of vertebrate animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes, by virtue of the terms of reference laid down in its Article 30;

Recognising that these terms of reference imply the monitoring of the implementation of the provisions, the adaptation of the Convention to changing circumstances and new scientific evidence and the development of common and coordinated programmes in the field covered by the Convention;

Anxious to encourage full respect for the provisions of the Convention by all people involved in the use of laboratory animals;

Recalling that the provision of Article 26 of the Convention requires appropriate education and training for persons working with laboratory animals;

Considering that appropriate education and training of persons working with these animals are indeed determining elements for the achievement of the objectives of the Convention which are to limit the number of animals used in procedures and ensure, as far as possible, the respect of their welfare before, during and after the procedures;

Convinced that an agreement on guidelines concerning education and training of these persons would facilitate the establishment of new training programmes and the achievement of the appropriate educational level required by the Convention;

Convinced that the Code of conduct on education and training, as reproduced in the Appendix to this Resolution, constitutes a series of guidelines the implementation of which will improve the respect of the provisions of the Convention by all persons working with laboratory animals in the Parties to the Convention;

Agreed:

i. to ensure that these guidelines will be circulated among the persons responsible for education and training of those working with laboratory animals;

ii. to encourage these persons to follow these guidelines in their courses;

iii. to encourage those responsible for education and training to establish programmes to allow the fulfilment of the requirements of the Convention for all persons working with laboratory animals.

APPENDIX

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR EDUCATION AND TRAININGOF PERSONS WORKING WITH LABORATORY ANIMALS

. Taking into account the results of the valuable work done by the Federation of European Laboratory Animal Science Associations (FELASA), the Parties, in accordance with Article 20 paragraph d and Article 26 of the Convention, defined four categories of persons who must have had appropriate education and training.

Category A: Persons taking care of animals

Category B: Persons carrying out procedures as defined in Article 1 paragraph 2.c of the Convention

Category C: Persons responsible for directing or designing procedures as defined in Article 1 paragraph 2.c of the Convention

. It was agreed that these guidelines would only constitute a necessary basis for topics to be included, to the extent necessary for the task at hand, into educational and training programmes so as to reach the appropriate level required by the Convention for persons working with laboratory animals.

In order to facilitate movement of these persons between countries, those providing training should be encouraged to issue a document proving the attendance at the training programmes and giving information about them.

GUIDELINES FOR CATEGORY ATraining of persons taking care of animals:

1. Basic instruction in ethical and legal aspects of the care of laboratory animals.

2. Animal handling and husbandry

- Environment, equipment, cages and accessories in animal facilities: description, use and maintenance.

- Handling and restraint.

- Basic knowledge of humane methods of killing of the relevant species.

- Elements of general physiology and behaviour of animal species used for experimental purposes.

- Animal husbandry and where appropriate breeding.

- Checking the environment in the holding rooms.

3. Recognition of health and disease

- Hygiene and disease control.

- Elements of general physiology and behaviour of animal species used for experimental purposes.

4. Recognition of pain, suffering and distress

5. Local practices relating to security, administration, transport, receipt of animals and supplies, disposal of animals.

6. Specific training if necessary for any tasks associated with assisting in procedures.

GUIDELINES FOR CATEGORY BTraining of persons carrying out procedures as defined in Article 1 paragraph 2.c of the Convention.

1. Basic appropriate knowledge on how to take care of animals and on local practices relating to security, administration, transport, receipt of animals and supplies, and disposal of animals.

2. Instruction in ethical and legal aspects of the use of laboratory animals.

3. Animal handling and basic principles of husbandry.

- Biological, in particular physiological and principal behavioural characteristics of species, breeds and strains of animals, relevant for the task at hand;

- handling and restraint;

- humane methods of killing of the relevant species.

4. Recognition of health and disease

- Practical aspects of monitoring health and disease.

5. Recognition of pain, suffering and distress

6. Education and training relevant to carrying out procedures

To the extent necessary for the task at hand,

- Appreciation of the elements of experimental design, including refinement, reduction and replacement;

- Relevance of housing systems and the local environment for procedures;

Training of persons belonging to category B must have a large practical component which will usually be performed under the supervision of someone with extensive experience in these areas. Persons belonging to category B must also receive some instruction as to the implication of microbiological status of the animals.

GUIDELINES FOR CATEGORY CTraining of persons responsible for directing or designing procedures as defined in Article 1 paragraph 2.c of the Convention.

Scientists responsible for the design or direction of animal experiments can be considered competent when they have:

- completed a full university degree course, with attainment of a bachelor's or master's degree (depending on national custom) or the equivalent, in a discipline such as (animal) biology, medicine or veterinary medicine or another discipline with appropriate education in zoology, anatomy or physiology;

- attended a basic course in laboratory animal science intended to develop an adequate level of responsibility for the use of animals in accordance with high scientific standards. Course duration will vary depending upon the training methods used and the experience acquired by the course participant, but as a guideline a curriculum of some 80 hours or the equivalent, for a person without relevant experience in animal procedures, has been found to be satisfactory. This total could be approached by coherent or modular courses, or by the accumulation of suitable instruction, study and experience that together give an appropriate breadth and depth of coverage.

These persons besides holding a veterinary or other appropriate qualification, may require additional knowledge and experience similar to the items listed in the curriculum for Category C persons. It may be necessary for such a person to extend his or her knowledge to laboratory procedures and the species with which he/she is not normally familiar.

These persons may require more specialised knowledge and experience than other laboratory personnel in the areas of their responsibilities such as microbiology of the relevant species, quality control, health monitoring, pathology and disease prevention and treatment, ethical aspects and legislation, techniques of humane killing of animals and post-procedural pain relief and nursing care.